Lay and shuttle box for looms



Dec. 30, 1930. J. F. COLGAN 1,786,703

LAY AND SHUTTLE BOX FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 30, 1930. J. F. CDLGAN LAY AND SHQTTLE' BOX FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 20. 1928 to the lay.

Patented Dec. 30,. 1930 UNITE} starts PATENT OFFICE JAMES F. COLGAN,' OF PROVIDENCE, RHlODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T CROMP'ION &

.KNOWLES.LOOM. WORKS, OE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTSYA CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS LAY AND SHUTTLE Box FOR LooMs I Application filedDecember 20.1928. Serial Nd. 327,341.

This invention relates, to loom lays and more particularly to the shuttle boxes of lays and it is the general object of the invention to'provide ready means for locating the 'po-' sitign of the box back with respect to. the

ree

The usual loom'lay carries an upright reed and has at each end a shuttle box the back of which is usually substantially but not 19 strictlyin line with the reed, so that the shut- .tle may pass from one box to the other through-the shed and be properly aligned with the reed. In a good'many looms as constructed at present the lay'is supported on wooden swords and the shuttle'box is made up in part by a back the position of which is determined by the lay sword. Due to inaccuracies resulting from warping etc, of the woodjthe box backs change their position 29 and'it is an important object of my present invention :to provide means for maintaining the boxback to its proper relation, with respect to the reed despite any relative movementwhich the sword may have with respect Lays areordinarilyprovided with a groove in which is located the bottom bar of the reed while a groove in the hand rail holds the upper bar of the reed. It is found that 39 there is 'suflicient variation in certain kinds of reeds so that if a box be adjusted properly with respect to one reed it may be out of correct adjustment with respect toanother reed of the same'general type. It is also practice in many mills to reverse the reeds when the front edges of the reed dents become worn so as topresent a new surface to the fell of the cloth and unless the front and back edges of the reed wires are symmetrically spaced with 49 respect to the grooves which position the, reed bars there will be a misalignment after reversal It is a further. object of my present invention to provide a box construction which will lend itself readily .to changes and adjustments which may be. necessary totake into account changes in the location of the reed line .forthe. reasons given.

On drop boxlooms it is customary to have shifting shuttle boxes on at least one end of the lay and'when such a loom is rendered automatic there is usually a single box on the oppositeend of the lay. It is a further ob ject of my present invention to provide substantially the same construction for adjustingthe boxes at both ends of the lay whether there be a single box secured to the lay or shifting boxes. 7

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown myinvention applied'both to single and drop boxes,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a lay made according to my invention, certainlparts being removed for the sake of clearness,

, Fig.2 is a top plan view of thesingle box end of the lay as it would be seen by an observer standing behind the lay, certainparts being broken away to illustrate the invention more fully,

Fig. 3 is adetailed rear elevation taken in the direction of arrow 3, Fig.2,

Fig. 4 is a'view similar to Fig. 2 but show ing the drop box end of the lay,

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation taken in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 6-6of Fig. 1, and

Fig.7 is a detail end elevation of a portion of the adjusting mechanism takenin the direction of arrow 7 Fig. 5.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a lay 10 which is mounted on lay swords 11 and 12 located. respectively at the right and left hand sides of the loom. The swords project above the lay'beam as shown in Fig. 1 and have their upper ends connected by a hand raill3. As shown particularly in Fig. 6 the lay is provided with a longitudinal upwardly opening groove 14 which receives the lower bar 15 of a reed R. The upper bar position upon the upper ends of the swords '32 are smaller positioning screws 34-,

the latter by means of check 11 and 12 so that any slight movement on the part of the swords will hare corresponding eilect on the position of the reed. It the swords are formed oi wood, for instance the reed may be thrown out of proper alignment with respect to other parts of the loom if the wood warps.

A loom as set for h herein for purposes oi illustrationis assumed to be a 4 x 1. that is, there is a single box 20 on one end of the lay and there are shifting shuttle boxes 21 on the ther end of the The single box 20 as shown more particularly in F is defined by a box back 22 having a v ical wall. 20. Said box bacl: has e ending rearwardly therefrom a pair of cars 2% through which extends an adjusting bolt 25. This bolt extends into the lay adjacent the o ter portion of one end thereof and is the means for l'iolding the out-er part of the box back in position. A binder 26 of usual form may be employed for the frontoi the box while the bottom of thbox may be formed of a plate 27.

Secured to the rear portion of the lay by means of screws 28 is a hr cket which extends across the sword as shown in Fig. 2. Said bracket may be formed with a pair of cars 30 which afford support for the forward end of one of the connectors for the lay, not shown.

The upper end of the bracket 29 is provided with means for supporting the inner portion 31 of the box back. A relal rely large screw 32 passes freely through the plate or bracket 29 and also through the sword 11, having its forward end tapped or threaded intothe portion 31 of the box back india ted at By means of this screw 32 the inner portion 31 of the box bacl: may be drawn toward the bracket or plate 29.

Disposed around the relatively screw three of which are shown herein. These screws may conveniently lie at the corners of a triangle which incloses the large screw and each of said screws 34. is thrc ded into the oraclret 29 and held in adjusted position ."iill respect to nut 35. The forwardly extending portion oi each of the said screws 34: project freely through openings 36 in the lay sword 11 and lie against the rear face 37 ot' the portion 31 oil the box back 22. It will be seen by re 'erence to F' a that at least one of the screws 34 is above 1 .e larger screw 32 and that at 1c: t one below said screw 32.

back against the positioning; screws 3 is the screw 3" is such that it will never project bey nd the surface 23 to interfere with the flignt of the shuttle. A similar ad ustmcnt in the opposite direction can be made if the surface 23 is behind its proper position. Such an ustment can be compensated for by putting shims under the ears 24:, either in front oi. or behind the bolt 25, or the box back may e subjected to a very slight twist, keeping tl e bolt and ears in their original position. It will also be seen that because of the :fact that there are screws lying both above and below the relatively large screw 32 the angle of the surface 23 may be changed by moving through a vertical plane. As suggested in Fl 2 the box back 23 is positioned entirely by means of the screws and 3st and is not in Contact with the lay sword 11 bein .Lpil" rated from the latter by the space 38.

The matter thus far described aiiords adjustment for that end of the lay which has the sin gle shuttle box, but my invention is equally usable in effecting adjustments on the shifting shuttle box end oi the lay. Referring to Figs. i and 5 I have shown a means for varying the position 01 the inner end of the shifting shuttle boxes 21. As is usual in drop boy: looms the boxes are provided with a tongue 50 which is received by a guide groore 51 formed on a plate Said plate extends down wardly as shown in Fig. 5 and is pivotally connected by means of a bolt 53 to the lay sword.

As in the case of the single box end of the m there is a relatively large screw 54 the head 55 of which is in engagement with a bracket 56 formed as part of the lay end on the drop box end of the loom. 'Said screw 54 passes freely through the bracket 56 and is threaded as at 57 into the guide plate 52. Other positioning screws 58 are disposed around the screw 54;, being threaded into the bracket 56 and extending through the lay sword 12 to have contact with the rear surface 59 of the plate 52. The plate 56 may be secured to the lay by screws 60.

From the description given in connection with Figs. 4 and 5 it will be apparent that the location of the guide groove 51 may be changed in a direction transversely of the reed line by varying the position of the smaller screws 58 and it will further be seen that by varying the position of the screw 54; the plate 52 may be moved rearwardly as a whole around the bolt 53 as a center. It will therefore be seen that in connection with the drop boxes the guide for the inner end of the lay may be changedso as to keep the boxesat the shifting box end of the loom in proper alignment with the reed. The outer end of the shifting boxes may be ad justed in any approved manner as for instance by the construction set forth incopendingapplication filed by Bergstr in ct to be understood oi course that the length Of 211., Sci. No. 321,204.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for positioning the box back or box guide of a shuttle box so that the shuttle when discharged will be travelling correctly with respect to the reed. It will also be seen that even though the lay swords 11 and 12 may be of wood and therefore subject to some slight changes due to warping, etc;, the box back and box guide will nevertheless be held in proper position by means of the positioning and retaining screws.

Having thus described my. invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and V scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein'disclosed, but

what I claim is:

1. In a loom lay having a reed along which a shuttle may run, a member independent of i the reed supported by the lay and in sub- 1 stantial alignmentwith the reed to guide the screw means supported by the lay and ex tending and movable transversely of the reed to position the member relatively to the reed, andother screw means positioned with respect to the lay and having operative engagement with the member to move and hold the latter against the first named screw means.

3. In a loom lay having a reed along which ashuttle may run, a member supported by the layto be engaged by and guide the shut tle, a plurality of screws movable transversely of the reed and supported with respect to the lay to have engagement with the member at spaced points, and a retaining screw threaded into the member at a pomt intermediate the first named points and lims ited as to movement with respect to the lay to hold the member against the first named screws, whereby the position of the member may be varied with respect to the reed.

l. In a loom lay having a reed along which a shuttle may run, a member supported by the lay to be engaged by and guide the shuttle, a plate fixed with respect to the lay, a plurality of positioning screws threaded through the plate and extendingtransverse- 1y of the reed to engage and position the member, and a retaining screw movable tranversely of the read and limited as to move ment in one direction by the plate and threaded into the member to be capable of drawing the latter toward the plate and varying the position of the member relatively to the reed.

s Ina loom lay having a reed along which a shuttle may run, a member supported by the lay to be engaged by and guide the shuttle, a plate fixed with respect to the lay, a retaining screw extending through the plate and limited as to movement in one direction by the latter and having operative engage- I ment with the member to move thelatter toward theplate, and positioning screws nor mally fixedwith respect to the lay to engage the member above and below the first named screw, said positioning screws being movable transversely of the reed to vary the position of the member relatively to the reed. i 6. In a loom lay having a reed along which a shuttle may run, a member supported by;

the lay to be engaged by and guide the shut tle, a single point ,of support for the member adjacent the outerend thereof around which the member may be moved as a center, and means fixedwith respect to the-lay to vary the inner portion of the member with respectv to'the reed. 1 s v 7. In a loom lay, having a reed along which a shuttl may run, a member supported by the lay to be engaged by and guide the shuttle,.-

a single point of support for the member adJacent the outer end thereof around which the member may be moved as a. center, and

means fixed with respect tothe lay to. vary the inner positionof the member with respect i to the reed said means includin 'a retainin screw to move the member transversely of:

the reed in one direction and including also positioning screws to lnnlt movement of the member in the direction in which it can been moved by the first named screw. a

8. In a loom lay having a reed along which a shuttle may run, a memberindependent oi the reed supported by the lay to be engaged by and guide the shuttle, screw means sup-' ported by the lay for relative movement with respect to the lay and reed and having contact with the member and exerting opposite forces on the member to hold the member normally fixed relatively to the; lay, the forces acting in directions transverse of the reed.

9.111 a loom lay havinga-reed along which a shuttle may run, a member independent of the reed supported by the lay to be engaged by and guide the shuttle, means supported by.

the lay for relative movement with respectto the lay and reed and having contact with the member and exerting opposite forces on the member to hold the member normally fixed relatively to the lay, the forces acting in di rec tions transverse of the reed.

10. In a loom lay having a reed fixed rela tively thereto along which the shuttle runs, a member supported by and movable relatively to the layand movable relatively to and independently of the reed, said member to guide the shuttle and two opposing means each exerting a force transverse of the reed and in a direction opposite to the force of the other, each of said means operatively related to the member and each movable transverse ly of the reed to give the member a plurality of positions transversely of the reed.

11. In a loom lay having a reed along which the shuttle travels, a member supported by the lay to be engaged by and guide the shuttle, and two separate instrumentalities coaeting with each other and the member to hold the latter in position, said instrumentalities both being movable in the same direction and transversely of the reed to give the member different positions relatively to the reed and both being normally fixed relatively to the lay, one of said instrumentalit-ies holding the member against the other and the latter determining the position of the member with respect to the reed.

12 In a loom lay having a reed along which the shuttle travels, a member supported by the lay to be engaged by and guide the shuttle. two separate instrumentalities eoacting with each other and the member to hold the latter in position said instrumentalities both being movable in the same direction and transversely of thereed to give the member different positions relatively to the reed and both being normally fixed relatively to the lay, one of said instrumentalities holding the member against the other and the latter determining the position of the member With respect to the reed, and movable shuttle boxes guided by the member.

13. In a loom lay having a reed fixed rela tively thereto along which the shuttle runs, a

member supported by and movable relatively I to the lay and movable relatively to and independently of the reed, said member to guide the shuttle, two opposing means each exerting a force transverse of the reed and in a direction opposite to the force of the other,

each of said means operatively related to the member and each. movable transversely of the reed. to give the member a plurality of positions Pansversely oi the reed, and movable shuttle boxes guided by the member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aliixed my signature.

JAMES F. COLGAN. 

